Get ready for a possibly daft question....

What is bulb fibre? Obviously, fibre that you mix in with compost for bulbs, but where does it originally come from? Is it the same thing as coir? Will any sort of shredded fibrous stuff do the job?

I've just started out on bulbs, bought some cheapies at the garden centre and will be looking at potting them up for inside use next winter/spring.

All knowledge gratefully received....

Thanks, Bob

"undergroundbob" wrote in
message ...

Get ready for a possibly daft question....

What is bulb fibre? Obviously, fibre that you mix in with compost for
bulbs, but where does it originally come from? Is it the same thing as
coir? Will any sort of shredded fibrous stuff do the job?

I've just started out on bulbs, bought some cheapies at the garden
centre and will be looking at potting them up for inside use next
winter/spring.

All knowledge gratefully received....
Thanks, Bob

Following site has an explanation of what is or how to make your own:
http://www.beechgrove.co.uk/fact_she...actsheet24.htm
Jenny

In article ,
undergroundbob writes

Get ready for a possibly daft question....

What is bulb fibre? Obviously, fibre that you mix in with compost for
bulbs, but where does it originally come from? Is it the same thing as
coir? Will any sort of shredded fibrous stuff do the job?

Most bulbs will grow perfectly well in whatever potting compost you're
using for the rest of your plants. Don't buy anything specially

I've just started out on bulbs, bought some cheapies at the garden
centre and will be looking at potting them up for inside use next
winter/spring.

What bulbs are we talking about? Daffs, hyacinths, crocus, tulips?

Pot them up now - they'll need a season's growth to build up flowering
for next season's flowers. You should get flowers this season, but late.
Be careful to feed them well, and give them plenty of soil space.

If you try to store them over the summer, some will rot and the rest
will put out shoots which will be depleting the bulb's food stores,
without having the roots to replenish what has been lost.

In general it's OK to buy cheap late bulbs for planting in the garden -
they may not flower well this season but the growing over the summer in
the garden will build them up well and you'll get a good show next year
- this is certainly the case with daffodils. Hyacinths tend to look like
rather stiff bluebells in the second year onwards. It's trickier
flowering bulbs twice in a row in pots - use big pots with plenty of
soil - perhaps plant them in the containers you are going to use for
summer colour on your patio - you can plant up the containers with the
summer flowers, the bulbs won't mind.

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Great succinct advice, Kay, thanks very much.

Bob

undergroundbob wrote in
message ...

Get ready for a possibly daft question....

What is bulb fibre? Obviously, fibre that you mix in with compost for
bulbs, but where does it originally come from? Is it the same thing as
coir? Will any sort of shredded fibrous stuff do the job?

I've just started out on bulbs, bought some cheapies at the garden
centre and will be looking at potting them up for inside use next
winter/spring.

All knowledge gratefully received....

Thanks, Bob


--
undergroundbob

Hi Bob,

The only real difference between bulb fibre/compost and multipurpose compost
is that bulb fibre is (a) very open and free-draining; (b) has few/no
nutrients, and (c) has a soil 'sweetener' - usually charcoal, which keeps
the compost from becoming sour. (This is important for indoor culture when
bulbs are grown in pots without drainage holes - naturally, care has to be
taken to avoid overwatering)

A good alternative would be seed compost (low nutrient content) with added
grit (not gravel) or perlite, to create an open structure. Provided you
plant into pots with good drainage holes, this will be fine.

However, if you're planting straight into the garden, simply improve the
soil so that it is more open, then when planting, sit the bulbs on a layer
of sharp grit.

If you're planting good flowering-size bulbs, you will not need to feed when
planting: bulbs produce their own food using their leaves: this is called
photosynthesis. Because of this, it is important to allow the leaves to die
back naturally so that the leaves feed the bulb. (Do not remove the leaves
for 6-8 wks after flowering). The bulb is simply a food storage unit.
In subsequent years, *some* of your bulbs will require a light dressing of
fertiliser. You will probably find a book useful to guide you in this. A
good, basic (and inexpensive) bulb guide can be found in The Expert range of
books by Dr. Hessayon. This book will also tell you which of your bulbs
require a moisture-retaining soil - most bulbs prefer to be kept
well-drained.

NB: Some bulbs prefer to be planted "in the green" (after flowering and
whilst leaves are green - this is because they don't like to dry out):
Snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) are one of these, and well worth growing.

Hope this helps.
Spider